Generic Product Identifier

Generic Product Identifier (GPI) is a system of classification for the identification of pharmaceutical drugs or medicinal products. The GPI is a 14-character hierarchical classification system that identifies drugs from their primary therapeutic use down to the unique interchangeable product regardless of manufacturer or package size.

Overview

The GPI system is used to identify a specific drug product at various levels of detail. The first level identifies the major therapeutic class, the second level identifies the therapeutic subclass, the third level identifies the specific drug product, and the fourth level identifies the dosage form, strength, and route of administration. The GPI system is used by pharmacy benefit managers, health insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies to manage drug formularies, track drug utilization, and analyze drug costs.

Structure

The GPI is a 14-character alphanumeric code. The first four characters represent the major therapeutic class, the next two characters represent the therapeutic subclass, the next four characters represent the specific drug product, and the last four characters represent the dosage form, strength, and route of administration. For example, a GPI of "12345678901234" would represent a specific drug product within a specific therapeutic class and subclass, with a specific dosage form, strength, and route of administration.

Use

The GPI system is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for a variety of purposes. It is used to manage drug formularies, track drug utilization, analyze drug costs, and facilitate drug interchangeability. The GPI system is also used in pharmacy claims processing to identify specific drug products and to determine their coverage under a patient's health insurance plan.

See also

• National Drug Code
• Pharmacy Benefit Management
• Health Insurance